Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-rdxmf Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-23T21:50:10.456Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Influence of environmental factors on smellmelon (Cucumis melo var. dudaim Naud.) germination, emergence, and vegetative growth

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 January 2017

Chris H. Tingle  and
James M. Chandler
James M. Chandler
Affiliation:
Department of Soil and Crop Sciences, 2474 TAMU, Texas Agricultural Experiment Station, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843-2474
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Laboratory experiments were conducted to determine the effects of optimum temperature, depth of planting, and simulated moisture stress on smellmelon germination and subsequent emergence. Smellmelon germination increased with temperatures ranging from 20 to 30 C, with the highest germination of 83% occurring at 30 C. Germination percentages decreased to 49 and 15% with temperatures of 35 and 45 C, respectively. Emergence from depths of 9 to 15 cm was less than 25% for all temperatures. Highest emergence from depths of 1 to 6 cm occurred with 30 and 35 C. Smellmelon germination was reduced from 81 to 61% when the osmotic potential was reduced to − 0.2 MPa and was further reduced to 48 and 7% with solutions of − 0.4 and − 0.6 MPa, respectively. Field studies were conducted to evaluate smellmelon biomass production in 1999 and 2000 when competing with cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.). End of season-smellmelon leaf area values were 16,280 and 22,053 cm2 per plant in 1999 and 2000, respectively, or 67 and 117 g of leaf dry weight per plant for 1999 and 2000, respectively. In 1999, smellmelon produced 60 g of stem dry weight per plant, and it increased to 75 g in 2000. Optimum germination temperature for smellmelon coincides with those for many annual crops. These data indicate that smellmelon germination and emergence can occur under a wide variety of environmental conditions. On the basis of biomass production values, smellmelon may also be a very efficient competitor with many cultivated crops.

Keywords

Smellmelon, Cucumis melo var. dudaim Naud. CUMMDDepth of emergencemoisture stressosmotic potentialbiomass partitioning
Type
Research Article
Information
Weed Science , Volume 51 , Issue 1 , February 2003 , pp. 56 - 59
Copyright
Copyright © Weed Science Society of America 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Literature Cited

Brecke, B. J. 1995. Wild poinsettia (Euphorbia heterophylla) germination and emergence. Weed Sci. 43:103–106.Google Scholar
Cardwell, V. B. 1984. Seed germination and crop production. Pages 53–92 In Teaser, M. B., ed. Physiological Basis of Crop Growth and Development. Madison, WS: American Society of Agronomy.Google Scholar
Chandler, J. M. 1977. Purple moonflower: emergence, growth, reproduction. Weed Sci. 25:163–167.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Correll, D. S. and Johnston, M. C. 1979. Manual of the Vascular Plants of Texas. Richardson, TX: The University of Texas at Dallas. 1881 p.Google Scholar
Eastin, E. F. 1983. Redweed (Melochia corchorifolia) germination as influenced by scarification, temperature, and seeding depth. Weed Sci. 31:229–231.Google Scholar
Egley, G. H. 1983. Weed seed and seedling reductions by soil solarization with transparent polyethylene sheets. Weed Sci. 24:224–228.Google Scholar
Egley, G. H. and Williams, R. D. 1990. Decline of weed seeds and seedling emergence over five years as affected by soil disturbances. Weed Sci. 38:504–510.Google Scholar
Hardcastle, W. S. 1978. Influence of temperature and acid scarification duration on scarlet morningglory (Ipomoea coccinea) seed germination. Weed Sci. 26:261–263.Google Scholar
Horak, M. J. and Sweat, J. K. 1994. Germination, emergence, and seedling establishment of buffalo gourd (Cucurbita foetidissima). Weed Sci. 42:358–363.Google Scholar
Horak, M. J. and Wax, L. M. 1991. Germination and seedling development of bigroot morningglory (Ipomoea pandurata). Weed Sci. 39:390–396.Google Scholar
Jensen, R. D. 1971. Effects of soil water tension on the emergence and growth of cotton seedlings. Agron. J. 63:766–769.Google Scholar
Keely, P. E., Thullen, R. J., and Carter, C. H. 1986. Influence of planting date on growth of ivyleaf morningglory (Ipomoea hederacea) in cotton (Gossypium hirsutum). Weed Sci. 34:906–910.Google Scholar
Martin, J. H., Leonard, W. H., and Stamp, D. L. 1976. Principles of Field Crop Production. 3rd ed. New York: MacMillan Publishing. pp. 176–210.Google Scholar
Michel, B. E. 1983. Evaluation of the water potentials of solutions of polyethylene glycol 8000 both in the absence and presence of other solutes. Plant Physiol. 72:66–70.Google Scholar
Prostko, E. P. and Chandler, J. M. 1998. Devil's-claw (Proboscidea louisianica) and smellmelon (Cucumis melo var. dudaim) control in cotton (Gossypium hirsutum) with pyrithiobac. Weed Sci. 12:19–22.Google Scholar
Radosevich, S. R. and Holt, J. S. 1984. Weed Ecology: Implications for Vegetation Management. 2nd ed. New York: J. Wiley. pp. 43–97.Google Scholar
Riley, J. A., Newton, D. H., Measells, J. W., Downey, D. A., and Hand, L. 1964. Soil Temperatures and Cotton Planting in the mid-South, Starkville, MS: Mississippi Agricultural Experiment Station. p. 678.Google Scholar
Shaw, D. R., Mack, R. E., and Smith, C. E. 1991. Redvine (Brunnichia ovata) germination and emergence. Weed Sci. 39:33–36.Google Scholar
Thomson, C. E. and Witt, W. W. 1987. Germination of cutleaf groundcherry (Physalis angulata), smooth groundcherry (Physalis virginiana) and eastern black nightshade (Solanum ptycanthum). Weed Sci. 35:58–62.Google Scholar
Thullen, R. J. and Keely, P. E. 1983. Germination, growth, and seed production of Ipomoea hederacea when planted at monthly intervals. Weed Sci. 31:837–840.Google Scholar
Tingle, C. H. and Chandler, J. M. 1999. Smellmelon (Cucumis melo) and entireleaf morningglory (Ipomoea hederacea var. integriuscula) control with Staple and Roundup ultra combinations in Roundup Ready cotton. Proc. South. Weed Sci. 52:256.Google Scholar